Packsack



Sept. 17, 1946. R KERNAHAN y 2,407,787

PACK-SACK Filed Oct. 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet lA RAY KERNA HAYNV lN V ENTOR ATTORNEY sept. 17, 1946. R. KERNAHAN f 2,407,787

' PACK-SACK Filed Oct, 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RAY KERNAHAN INVENTOR ATTO R N E Y Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims. l

VThe present invention relates to haversacks, pack-sacks and the like.

Pack-sacks are ordinarily designed with a cerl tain capacity for carrying a load of a predetermined size and weight and are not generally usable for both large and small loads. Obviously, a pack-sack having a small container and designed for carrying correspondingly small loads cannot be used for loads in excess of the container capacity. On the other hand, the pack- ,sack designed specially for carrying large, bulky loads cannot practically be used for carrying small loads because the concentration of the weight of the small load in the botto-m of the large pack-sack container results in a very uncomfortable weight distribution upon the back of the wearer. To minimize the physical effort required in carrying the burden, particularly over great distances, the relative position of the pack upon the back of the wearer should be capable of adjustment in accordance with the size and weight of the load in order that such a distribution of weight may be achieved which is most comfortable. Pack-sacks, as heretofore provided, consisting of a container of more or less fixed capacity and shoulder straps ixedly attached thereto cannot be so adjusted.

Itis an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved pack-sack which may be readily adjusted for carrying either large or small loads.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pack-sack having a container of adjustable capacity and a shoulder strap arrangement which may be readily adjusted relative to the container in order to secure such a distrib-ution of weight of the load upon the back of the wearer as will provide maximum comfort.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pack-sack and harness arrangement, the capacity of the sack container being readily adjustable to correspond with the size of the particular load required to be carried, the harness arrangement being separately adjustable to eifect optimum weight distribution of the load upon the back of the carrier.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable capacity pack-sack which is of simple design, light in weight and of low manufacturing cost.

In accordance with one embodiment, the invention comprises an elongated fabric sack open at the upper end and having a draw-string closure means therefor. The lower end of the sack is adapted to be rolled up from the bottom for adjusting the effective length of the sack and, hence, its capacity in accordance with the size of the particular load to be carried thereby. A shoulder strap arrangement is provided together with means for removably attaching the same to the sack in one of a number of positions in accordance with the size of load contained therein in order that an optimum weight distribution of the load may be obtained upon the back of the wearer.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a pack-sack constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention and illustrating in particular the front side thereof; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating the rear side of the pack-sack shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a View in perspective illustrating the pack-sack in a maximum loaded condition positioned upon the back of a wearer; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View illustrating the hitch for the upper ends: of the shoulder straps upon the pack-sack when used in the fully loaded condition as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a View in perspective corresponding to that oi Fig. 3 but illustrating the pack-sack in a lightly loaded condition and Fig. 6 is an edge view of the pack-sack adjusted for small capacity as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the pack-sack comprises a container or sack Il] which may be made of a suitable material, such as canvas, and is of a desired width and length, preferably such as to provide sufficient capacity for holding a load of a maximum size which may comfortably be carried upon ones back. The sack may be formed from a single length of material doubled back upon itself forming a front side Il and a rear side l2, `the two sides being stitched together with a relatively wide searn along the opposite edges as indicated at i3 and Ul. The sack is open lat its upper end and is adapted to be closed by means of a draw-string l5 laced through cocperating eyelets provided in the upper edge of the sides Il and l2.

A cover flap ll is sewed to the rear side l2 adjacent the upper end there-of, preferably by a transverse stitching i8 a distance down from the upper edge of the side I2 and by slopingl seams I9 and 20 converging toward the center at the uppermost edge of the sack side I2 as illustrated sponding buckles 22 suitably fastened to the front side II of the sack.

A plurality of loops, or rings, 2li are arrangedl through grommets provided in the opposite seam edges I3 and I 4 of the sack adjacent the upper portion thereof.. A pair o-f loops, or rings, 25 are also provided in the lowermost corners of the sack. The loops 24 and 25 are provided for securing the shoulder straps to the sack as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A pair of shoulder straps 21 are provided havingadjustable extensions 28 at their lowermost ends and to which are secured snap hooks 29. As illustrated in Figs. l and 2 the upper ends of the shoulder straps 2l are secured by a thong 3i extending through cooperating eyelets provided in the uppermost edge of the rear side I2 of the sack, the ends of the thong 3l extending through cooperating openings pro-vided in a reenforcing pad 32 and tied together as indicated at 33 on the inside of the sack. As will be explained more -fully hereinafter this fastening arrangement for the upper ends of the straps 21 will generally be used only when the sack is adjusted for use as a ruck-sack, that is, for carrying relatively small loads.

When the pack-sack is used for carrying heavy or large size loads and as illustrated in Fig. 3,

the upper ends of the shoulder straps are secured to the sack a distance down from the uppermost end thereof to provide a more desirable distribution of weight. In the case of a heavily loaded pack the greatest ease in carrying will generally be found when the center Vof gravity of the pack is raised relatively high with regard to the shoulders and the upper ends of the shoulder straps secured to the sack just slightly above the center of gravity. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper ends of the shoulder straps are secured by means of the thong 3l to a pair of straps 35 and 35 which extend outwardly from the center of the sack and secured through fasteners to a pair of directly opposite loops 25 at the edges of the sack. As will be readily understood by one aocustorned to carrying heavy packs, it is quite irnportant that the load be firmly packed into the container sack. Preferably such packing is done before the shoulder straps are secured to the sack and after the sack is fully loaded the pair of side loops to which the shoulder straps should be anchored are selected which divide the load so that approximately one-third of the load extends thereabove and two-thirds depends therebelow. After Vthe pack has been loaded the i ends of the straps 35, 36 are then secured to the desired loops 24 and drawn tight by means of the buckles 3l, 38 provided therein. The lowermost ends of the shoulder straps are then secured to the loops 25 in the lowermost corners of the sack and it is ready to be slung onto the back. With a little experience the points of anchorage of the upper ends of the shoulder straps to the loaded pack-sack which enables carrying of the burden with the greatest ease may readily be determined. On a long trek it is frequently found restful to occasionally shift the center of gravity of the pack either slightly up or down from a predetermined position and which may readily be done with the shoulder strap anchorage arrangement as described without requiring reloading of the pack-sack.

It will be observed that with the pack in the fully loaded condition, the opposite side seams I3 and I4 lie in a vertical plane extending through the center of the load. By lifting up on a pair of directly opposed side loops 24 above the center of gravity of the load the sack will depend in a balanced vertical position.V Thus, by

securing the shoulder straps through the straps contributes greatly to the ease and comfort with Which loads of considerable weight may be carried as compared to a pack wherein the straps are secured directly to the side of the sack nearest the back ofthe wearer.

The pack-sack was described above as adapted for carrying large, bulky and heavy loads, though, as will presently appear, the pack-sack of the present invention is further adaptable for use in carrying smaller loads. It will be obvious that if a relatively small load were inserted into the sack I!! in the fully extended condition, the center of gravity thereof would beV lowered toward the extreme botto-m of the sack and could not comfortably be carried upon the back. For reducing the capacity of the sack Iii for handling relatively small loads, the lowermost end of sack I El is adapted to be rolled up in a manner such as is illustrated more clearly in the views of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be observed that a pair of relatively long straps 4I are secured at their upper ends to the rear side I2 of the sack adjacent the central portion thereof. The lower end corners of the sack may be folded inwardly toward each other as indicated by the dotted lines t2 and the lower end of the sack rolled up to any desired extent so as to reduce the capacity of the pack-sack for accommodating the smaller loads. Secured to the front side II of the sack are a pair of buckles 43 for cooperatively receiving the ends of the straps 4| and holding the lower end of the sack II) in the rolled up condition as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

When used as a ruck-sack, the shoulder straps may be anchored as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be further observed that in this case, since the top of the sack is drawn together by the drawstring I, the shoulder straps are thus secured to the loaded sack substantially on the vertical axis of the center of gravity thereof. As previously described this insures suspension of the load from the shoulders with a minimum backward turning moment and causes the pack to be urged firmly by its own weight against the back with uniformly distributed pressure.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the shoulder straps are readily completely removable from the pack to permit the use of the container in the manner of an ordinary duffel bag. If desired, the shoulder straps may be inserted into the bag during such use and thus be kept available for reattachment thereto.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be a preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the speciiic details are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by obvious modifications.

I claim:

1. A pack-sack comprising an elongated sheet of material folded upon itseliand sewed together along the opposite sides to form a sack open at the top, a cover flap sewed to the upper end of one side or said sack by a triangular stitching, the apex of the triangle being substantially centrally dis-- posed adjacent the top of said side, the sides of said triangle sloping downwardly from said apex to the opposite side edges of said sack below said top, a draw string for drawing together the top of said sack, the lower end of said sack being adapted to be rolled up to a variable degree to provide a resultant sack of selective capacity, a pair of shoulder straps, means for securing the lower ends of said straps to the lower end corners of said sac-k in either the rolled or extended condition thereof, and means for securing the upper ends of said straps to the top of said side substantially at the apex of said triangle, in the rolled up condition of said sack.

2. A pack-sack comprising an .elongated sheet of material folded upon itself and sewed together along the opposite sides to form a sack open at the top, a cover ap sewed to the outer surface of one side of said sack and below said top by a triangular stitching, the apex of said triangle being substantially centrally disposed adjacent the top of said side, a draw string for drawing tcgether the top of said sack without causing appreciable folding of said flap, the lower end of said sack being adapted to be rolled up to a variable extent for adjusting the capacity of said sack, pair of shoulder straps secured together at their upper ends and having lower ends adapted to be attached to the lowermost end corners of said sack, means for attaching the upper ends of said shoulder straps to said sack substantially at the apex of said triangle during use of said sack with the lowerniost end rolled up, and means for fastening said shoulder straps with the upper ends secured together to the opposite seams of said sack below the uppermost end thereof in the extended condition of said sack.

3. A pack-sack comprising a sack having an opening at the upper end, a cover flap having a width substantially equal to the width of the sack, said cover flap being sewed across the outer surface of one side of said sack below the upper end of said sack, the central portion of said one side at the upper edge thereof being secured to said flap, a draw string for closing the upper end of said sack, the opposite upper corners of said sack being free from said flap whereby the upper end of said sack may be drawn closed by said drawstring without causing appreciableV folding of said flap, and shoulder straps attached to said sack.

RAY KERNA'HAN. 

